Edoxaban for 12 Months Versus 3 Months in Patients With Cancer With Isolated Distal Deep Vein Thrombosis (ONCO DVT Study): An Open-Label, Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy for isolated distal deep vein thrombosis in patients with cancer is clinically relevant, but the evidence is lacking. The prolonged anticoagulation therapy could have a potential benefit for prevention of thrombotic events; however, it could also increase the risk of bleeding. METHODS: In a multicenter, open-label, adjudicator-blinded, randomized clinical trial at 60 institutions in Japan, we randomly assigned patients with cancer with isolated distal deep vein thrombosis, in a 1-to-1 ratio, to receive either a 12-month or 3-month edoxaban treatment. The primary end point was a composite of a symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) or VTE-related death at 12 months. The major secondary end point was major bleeding at 12 months, according to the criteria of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. The primary hypothesis was that a 12-month edoxaban treatment was superior to a 3-month edoxaban treatment with respect to the primary end point. RESULTS: From April 2019 through June 2022, 604 patients were randomized, and after excluding 3 patients who withdrew consent, 601 patients were included in the intention-to-treat population: 296 patients in the 12-month edoxaban group and 305 patients in the 3-month edoxaban group. The mean age was 70.8 years, 28% of the patients were men, and 20% of the patients had symptoms of deep vein thrombosis at baseline. The primary end point of a symptomatic recurrent VTE event or VTE-related death occurred in 3 of the 296 patients (1.0%) in the 12-month edoxaban group and in 22 of the 305 patients (7.2%) in the 3-month edoxaban group (odds ratio, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03-0.44). The major secondary end point of major bleeding occurred in 28 of the 296 patients (9.5%) in the 12-month edoxaban group and in 22 of the 305 patients (7.2%) in the 3-month edoxaban group (odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.75-2.41). The prespecified subgroups did not affect the estimates on the primary end point. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with cancer with isolated distal deep vein thrombosis, 12 months was superior to 3 months for an edoxaban treatment with respect to the composite outcome of a symptomatic recurrent VTE or VTE-related death. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03895502.

Association Between the Development of Thrombosis and Worsening of Disease Severity in Patients With Moderate COVID-19 on Admission　- From the CLOT-COVID Study.

BACKGROUND: The worsening of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity is a critical issue in current clinical settings and may be associated with the development of thrombosis.Methods and Results: This study used patient data obtained in the CLOT-COVID study, a retrospective multicenter cohort study. The demographics of patients with moderate COVID-19 on admission with and without worsened severity during hospitalization were compared and predictors were identified. Of 927 patients with moderate COVID-19 on admission, 182 (19.6%) had worsened severity during hospitalization. Patients with worsening of severity were older, more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and active cancer, and more likely to use pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. Patients with worsening of severity had higher D-dimer levels on admission and were more likely to develop thrombosis and major bleeding during hospitalization than those without worsening. Increased age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.03, P=0.005), diabetes (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.11-2.33, P=0.012), D-dimer levels >1.0 µg/mL on admission (OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.45-3.03, P<0.001), and thrombosis (OR: 6.28, 95% CI: 2.72-14.53, P<0.001) were independently associated with worsening of COVID-19 severity. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 20% of patients with moderate COVID-19 had worsened severity during hospitalization. Increased age, diabetes, D-dimer levels >1.0 µg/mL on admission, and the development of thrombosis during hospitalization were significantly associated with worsened COVID-19 severity.

Rivaroxaban treatment for asymptomatic venous thromboembolism: insights from the J'xactly study.

BACKGROUND: An established treatment strategy for asymptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remains uncertain in Japan; therefore, in this study, we clarify the characteristics and outcomes of symptomatic compared to asymptomatic patients with PE or DVT. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter sub-analysis of the J'xactly study in Japan included 1,016 patients (mean age, 68; 41% male) with venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated with rivaroxaban. RESULTS: Asymptomatic PE patients (47% of PE patients) were more likely to have active cancer and asymptomatic proximal DVT at lower severity than symptomatic PE patients, despite no differences in age, sex, or the proportion receiving intensive 30 mg/day-rivaroxaban. Patients with asymptomatic DVT (34% of DVT patients) were older, had higher rates of female sex, active cancer, and distal DVT, and received shorter, less intense rivaroxaban treatment. Incidences did not differ between asymptomatic and symptomatic PE patients for recurrent symptomatic VTE (hazard ratio [HR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22-1.62; P = 0.31) or major bleeding (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.20-2.33; P = 0.58), nor between asymptomatic and symptomatic DVT patients for recurrent symptomatic VTE (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.23-1.40; P = 0.21) and major bleeding (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.54-3.97; P = 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: The real-world composite adverse event rate for treatment with rivaroxaban, as physician-adjusted for dose and duration, was similar for asymptomatic and symptomatic patients regardless of the presence of PE or DVT, suggesting a favorable safety profile for potential rivaroxaban treatment for asymptomatic VTE.

Mortality-associated Risk Factors in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Japan: Findings of the CLOT-COVID Study.

BACKGROUND: Reports of mortality-associated risk factors in patients with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are limited. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical features that were associated with mortality among patients who died during hospitalization (n = 158) and those who were alive at discharge (n = 2,736) from the large-scale, multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort CLOT-COVID study, which enrolled consecutively hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 16 centers in Japan from April to September 2021. Data from 2,894 hospitalized COVID-19 participants of the CLOT-COVID study were analyzed in this study. RESULTS: Patients who died were older (71.1 years vs 51.6 years, P < 0.001), had higher median D-dimer values on admission (1.7 µg/mL vs 0.8 µg/mL, P < 0.001), and had more comorbidities. On admission, the patients who died had more severe COVID-19 than did those who survived (mild: 16% vs 63%, moderate: 47% vs 31%, and severe: 37% vs 6.2%, P < 0.001). In patients who died, the incidence of thrombosis and major bleeding during hospitalization was significantly higher than that in those who survived (thrombosis: 8.2% vs 1.5%, P < 0.001; major bleeding: 12.7% vs 1.4%, P < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that age >70 years, high D-dimer values on admission, heart disease, active cancer, higher COVID-19 severity on admission, and development of major bleeding during hospitalization were independently associated with a higher mortality risk. CONCLUSION: This large-scale observational study in Japan identified several independent risk factors for mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 that could facilitate appropriate risk stratification of patients with COVID-19.

Therapeutic-Dose vs. Prophylactic-Dose Anticoagulation Therapy for Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19 in a Practice-Based Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The potential benefit of therapeutic-dose anticoagulation for critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still controversial.Methods and Results: In the CLOT-COVID study, 225 patients with severe COVID-19 on admission requiring mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were divided into patients with therapeutic-dose anticoagulation (N=110) and those with prophylactic-dose anticoagulation (N=115). There was no significant difference in the incidence of thrombosis between the groups (9.1% vs. 7.8%, P=0.73). CONCLUSIONS: Among a cohort of critically ill patients with COVID-19, approximately half received therapeutic-dose anticoagulation, although it did not show a potential benefit compared with prophylactic-dose anticoagulation.

Incidence, risk factors, and clinical impact of major bleeding in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a sub-analysis of the CLOT-COVID Study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes extensive coagulopathy and a potential benefit of anticoagulation therapy has been documented for prevention of thromboembolic events. Bleeding events has also been reported as a notable complication; whereas, the incidence, risks, and clinical impact of bleeding remain unclear. METHOD: The CLOT-COVID Study was a nationwide, retrospective, multicenter cohort study on consecutive hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Japan between April 2021 and September 2021. In this sub-analysis, we compared the characteristics of patients with and without major bleeding; moreover, we examined the risk factors for and clinical impact of bleeding events. RESULTS: Among 2882 patients with COVID-19, 57 (2.0%) had major bleeding. The incidence of major bleeding increased with COVID-19 severity as follows: 0.5%, 2.3%, and 12.3% in patients with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19, respectively. COVID-19 severity, history of major bleeding, and anticoagulant type/dose were independently and additively associated with the bleeding incidence. Compared with patients without major bleeding, those with major bleeding exhibited a longer duration of hospitalization (9 [6-14] vs 28 [19-43] days, P < 0.001) and higher mortality during hospitalization (4.9% vs. 35.1%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the real-world clinical practice, the incidence of major bleeding was not uncommon, especially in patients with severe COVID-19. Independent risk factors for major bleeding included history of major bleeding, COVID-19 severity, and anticoagulant use, which could be associated with poor clinical outcomes including higher mortality. Precise recognition of the risks for bleeding may be helpful for an optimal use of anticoagulants and for better outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

Clinical Implication of the Right Ventricular/Left Ventricular Diameter Ratio in Patients with Pulmonary Thromboembolism.

The role of the right to left ventricular (RV/LV) diameter ratio in predicating long-term outcomes in patients with pulmonary thromboembolisms (PTEs) treated with direct oral anticoagulants is unclear.We investigated the association between the RV/LV diameter ratio and clinical outcomes in PTE patients under rivaroxaban from the data of a multicenter, prospective, observational study (J'xactly Study) in Japanese patients with acute venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) including deep vein thromboses, PTEs, or both. Of a total of 1,039 patients with an acute VTE (from December 2016 to April 2018), 429 were diagnosed with PTEs, however, the population in this study consists of 216 patients in whom the RV/LV diameter ratio measured on the axial CT or transthoracic echocardiogram was available.The RV/LV diameter ratio increased significantly with the severity of the PTE classification (nonmassive 0.79 [0.67-0.93], submassive 1.10 [0.83-1.31], massive 1.13 [0.94-1.19], arrest or collapse 1.38 [0.66-2.38], P < 0.001). During a median follow-up of 624 (550-690) days, a sum of the composite adverse events including recurrent VTEs, acute coronary syndrome, ischemic strokes, death from any cause, or major bleeding events occurred in 26 patients (12.0%, 7.58 events per 100 patient-years). Multivariate analysis revealed that an RV/LV diameter ratio ≥ 1.0 had no association with the incidence of composite adverse events (HR 1.34, 95% confidence interval 0.59-2.91, P = 0.48).In summary, in Japanese PTE patients under rivaroxaban, the RV/LV diameter ratio measured on the CT or transthoracic echocardiogram was associated with the PTE severity, but not with the clinical outcomes.

Safety and Effectiveness of Apixaban in Japanese Patients With Venous Thromboembolism in Clinical Practice　- A Post-Marketing Surveillance.

BACKGROUND: A post-marketing surveillance study (STANDARD-VTE) evaluated the real-world safety and effectiveness of apixaban in Japanese patients prescribed for either the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) or prevention of recurrent VTE.Methods and Results:Patients newly initiated on apixaban were followed up for 52 weeks or 28 days post-discontinuation. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients with and without active cancer, and on patients with provoked VTE and with unprovoked VTE. A total of 1,119 patients were enrolled. Of these, 43.1% were aged ≥75 years, 46.4% had body weight ≤60 kg, and 21.3% had active cancer; mean serum creatinine was 0.76 mg/dL. The incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was 8.85%, and that of severe ADRs was 3.22%. Incidence of any bleeding, major bleeding, and recurrent VTE was 6.70%, 3.40%, and 0.80%, respectively. In patients starting apixaban 10 mg twice daily, THE incidence of any bleeding and major bleeding was 7.72% and 3.86%, respectively. In patients with active cancer, THE incidence of any bleeding and major bleeding was 16.81% and 9.24%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: No new safety signals of apixaban were identified in Japanese patients with VTE. In this study, the safety and effectiveness of apixaban in real-world practice was consistent with the results of the apixaban phase III trial.

Clinical Features of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan　- A Case Series Study.

BACKGROUND: Suspicion that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused venous thromboembolism (VTE).Methods and Results:We conducted a case series study of 5 VTE patients with COVID-19 in Japan. The median body mass index was 27.7 kg/m2, and all patients required mechanical ventilation during hospitalization. Patients were diagnosed as VTE in the intensive care unit (ICU), general ward, and outpatient ward. CONCLUSIONS: The current case series study revealed some clinical features of VTE patients with COVID-19 in Japan, including obese patients and those requiring mechanical ventilation during hospitalization, who should be followed closely for VTE, even after leaving the ICU.

Incidence and Clinical Features of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reportedly causes venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the status of this complication in Japan was unclear.Methods and Results:The VTE and COVID-19 in Japan Study is a retrospective, multicenter cohort study enrolling hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who were evaluated with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination at 22 centers in Japan between March 2020 and October 2020. Among 1,236 patients with COVID-19, 45 (3.6%) were evaluated with contrast-enhanced CT examination. VTE events occurred in 10 patients (22.2%), and the incidence of VTE in mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 was 0%, 11.8%, and 40.0%, respectively. COVID-19 patients with VTE showed a higher body weight (81.6 vs. 64.0 kg, P=0.005) and body mass index (26.9 vs. 23.2 kg/m2, P=0.04), and a higher proportion had a severe status for COVID-19 compared with those without. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients alive at discharge between patients with and without VTE (80.0% vs. 88.6%, P=0.48). Among 8 pulmonary embolism (PE) patients, all were low-risk PE. CONCLUSIONS: Among a relatively small number of patients undergoing contrast-enhanced CT examination in Japanese real-world clinical practice, there were no VTE patients among those with mild COVID-19, but the incidence of VTE seemed to be relatively high among severe COVID-19 patients, although all PE events were low-risk without significant effect on mortality risk.

A Multicenter Prospective Observational Cohort Study to Investigate the Effectiveness and Safety of Rivaroxaban in Japanese Venous Thromboembolism Patients (The J'xactly Study).

BACKGROUND: There is insufficient real-world data on the current status of Japanese patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) or its treatment and prevention with rivaroxaban.Methods and Results:In this multicenter, prospective, observational study conducted in Japan, 1,039 patients with acute symptomatic/asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) with or without DVT prescribed rivaroxaban were enrolled at 152 institutions and observed for a median of 21.3 months. Mean age was 68.0±14.7 years, mean body weight was 60.3±14.1 kg, 59.0% were females, and 19.0% had active cancer. Incidences of recurrence or aggravation of symptomatic VTE (primary effectiveness outcome) and major bleeding (principal safety outcome) were 2.6% and 2.9% per patient-year, respectively. These outcomes did not differ between patients with DVT and those with PE (primary effectiveness outcome: 2.6% vs. 2.5% per patient-year, P=0.810; principal safety outcome: 3.5% vs. 2.4% per patient-year, P=0.394). The incidence of composite clinically relevant events, including recurrence or aggravation of symptomatic VTE, acute coronary syndrome, ischemic stroke, all-cause death, or major bleeding events, was 9.2% per patient-year. Multivariate analysis revealed that male sex, being underweight, having active cancer, chronic heart and lung disease, and previous stroke were independent determinants for composite clinically relevant events. CONCLUSIONS: In Japanese clinical practice, a single-drug approach with rivaroxaban was demonstrated to be a valuable treatment for a broad range of VTE patients.

[Surgical Repair of Coronary-pulmonary Artery Fistulae with Giant Coronary Aneurysm].

A 69-year-old woman was referred to our hospital due to dyspnea on exertion and a heart murmur. A chest X-ray showed a bulge at the left 3rd arch and chest computed tomography( CT) revealed a giant mass adjacent to the right ventricular outflow. Multidetector-row CT and coronary angiography showed a giant coronary aneurysm (55×45 mm) and fistulae arising from the left main coronary trunk and entering into the main pulmonary artery (PA). The pulmonary to systemic flow ratio was 1.84. She was diagnosed with coronary-pulmonary artery fistulae with giant coronary aneurysm. Aneurysmorrhaphy and closure of the fistula outlet from the PA were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass with cardiac arrest. After declamping the aorta, residual shunt flow was found at several sites of abnormal vessels in the right ventricular outflow using a Doppler flowmeter. The vessels were ligated with pledgeted sutures, but did not disappear completely. Postoperative coronary angiography and transthoracic echocardiogram showed a small residual shunt flow into the PA. The postoperative course was uneventful;she was discharged on postoperative day 18. Six months later, the residual shunt flow had disappeared. No recurrence has been detected for 7 years.

[Effectiveness of the Waffle Procedure for Constrictive Pericarditis].

A 66-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with dyspnea. Right-sided congestive pleural effusion of an unknown etiology was detected and she was diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis. Pericardiectomy was performed via median sternotomy under extracorporeal circulation because severe adhesion was observed. However, hemodynamics did not improve after pericardial resection because of thickend epicardium in front of the right ventricle. Hence, the waffle procedure was additionally performed on the anterior surface of the right ventricle after coming-off the extracorporeal circulation. Although significant cardiac dilatation was achieved, hemodynamics did not change markedly. The symptoms gradually alleviated postoperatively and cardiac catheterization performed 3 weeks later revealed marked improvement in hemodynamics. Although improvement in hemodynamics takes time, the waffle procedure appears to be effective.

Serious Adverse Events with Cyanoacrylate Closure of Varicose Veins: An Initial Report from a Large-Scale National Survey in Japan.

Objective: Cyanoacrylate closure (CAC) is a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of varicose veins. A recent paper reported serious adverse events (AEs) associated with this use. This triggered an urgent survey to determine the incidence of AEs in Japan. Methods: The CAC-AE survey was sent to all 1,030 institutions authorized for CAC treatments. Cases performed between January 2020 and October 2023 were surveyed. Data on serious AEs and mortality were collected. Results: There were 623 surveys returned. There were 16 cases of proximal deep vein thrombosis, 3 cases of pulmonary embolism (PE), and 0 cases of stroke. Deep vein occlusion due to cyanoacrylate extension was observed in 1 case. Vein resection due to infection was observed in 4 cases. There were 299 cases of localized phlebitis and/or allergic reactions requiring steroid administration. Systemic allergic reactions requiring steroid administration were observed in 66 cases. There was no anaphylaxis associated with cyanoacrylate. There was one postoperative death from PE. Conclusion: This report's intent is to provide real world data on serious AEs following CAC from Japan given current concern over these events. An extensive report investigation of individual complications with analysis including causality will be provided following a full investigation separately.

Mid-term results of cyanoacrylate closure for the treatment of incompetent great and small saphenous veins: Findings from a Japanese prospective consecutive multi-center registry: Mid-term results of cyanoacrylate closure.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of cyanoacrylate closure (CAC) for endovascular treatment of varicose veins with cyanoacrylate adhesive (VenaSeal® closure system) in Japan. METHODS: A multicenter prospective consecutive registry study was conducted at 12 centers in Japan on 125 patients with primary varicose veins who underwent CAC. The patients were evaluated on target vein occlusion, postoperative complications, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, revised Venous Clinical Severity Score (rVCSS), Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ), and EuroQol 5 dimensions 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) for 1-year after the surgery. RESULTS: The closure rate was 92.6% at 1 year postoperatively, and 95.0% and 90.2% for GSV and SSV respectively with little difference (p = .491). The mean VAS in the immediate postoperative period was 18.9 ± 23.4. Postoperative complications were observed in 20 patients (16%). Hypersensitivity-type phlebitis occurred in 7 patients (5.6%). Infection of the treated vein resulted in resection of GSV. The rVCSS and AVVQ improved significantly after 90 days and 1 year postoperatively (p < .001), while the EQ-5D-5L have not changed. CONCLUSION: Cyanoacrylate Closure was considered generally a safe and minimally invasive treatment with good mid-term outcomes including SSV. However further study is required for some CAC specific complications.

Prophylactic Anticoagulation and Thrombosis in Hospitalized Patients with Clinically Stable COVID-19 at Admission: From the Practice-Based Observational Study.

Objectives: The potential benefit of routine prophylactic anticoagulation for all hospitalized patients with clinically stable coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still controversial. Method: The CLOT-COVID Study was a multicenter observational study enrolling 2894 consecutive hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The current study population consisted of 1738 hospitalized patients with mild COVID-19 at admission not requiring oxygen administration, who were divided into 2 groups: patients with prophylactic anticoagulation (n = 326) and those without (n = 1412). Results: Patients with prophylactic anticoagulation had more severe status of the worst severity of COVID-19 during hospitalization compared with those without (mild: 38% versus 82%, moderate: 55% versus 17%, and severe or death at discharge: 6.4% versus 0.7%, P <0.001). During hospitalization, 8 patients (0.5%) developed thrombosis, and the incidences of thrombosis were numerically higher in patients with more severe status of worst severity of COVID-19 during hospitalization (mild: 0.2%, moderate: 1.2%, and severe or death at discharge: 3.2%). Conclusions: Among hospitalized patients with clinically stable COVID-19 at admission, patients who did not worsen in COVID-19 severity after admission rarely developed thrombosis, although patients with worsening of COVID-19 severity after admission more often received prophylactic anticoagulation and might have a higher risk of thrombosis.